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For 55 years, the families of three Scottish soldiers murdered in Ligoniel in 1971 have sought the truth about their tragic deaths. David McCaughey, cousin of one of the victims, remains determined to secure answers and closure for the families. He is currently calling on the government to release unredacted state files relating to the killings.
2026/01/03
A five-decade quest for the truth surrounding the unsolved murders of three young Scottish soldiers, whose bodies were discovered in Ligoniel, North Belfast, continues as a relative vows to keep campaigning until answers are finally uncovered.
Brothers John (17) and Joseph McCaig (18) from Ayr, and Dougald McCaughey (23) from Glasgow, were tragically shot dead by the IRA in March 1971. They were the first off-duty soldiers murdered during the Troubles. The three friends, who served with the Royal Highland Fusiliers, were lured from a city centre pub, with their bodies later found on a roadside in Ligoniel. Despite the passage of time, no one has ever been convicted of these killings.
David McCaughey, 57, cousin of Fusilier Dougald McCaughey, has been actively campaigning on the case for 17 years. His efforts initially focused on erecting memorials in North Belfast and later moved into legal attempts to secure fresh investigations. Mr McCaughey notes that while several suspects thought to have been involved are now deceased, he believes others linked to the horrific event are still alive.
With the 55th anniversary of the tragedy approaching, Mr McCaughey stresses that his current focus is centred on securing answers and providing closure for the affected families, rather than solely pursuing criminal convictions. He described the enduring pain, stating, "It's a scar that's never healed and never will heal."
He highlighted the profound difference between losing someone naturally and losing a loved one through violent murder. A key demand from Mr McCaughey is the release of unredacted state archive files concerning the killings. "There's stuff in those files the Government doesn't want people to see," he claimed. He remains resolute in his commitment to the campaign: "We'll just keeping going for the truth. Answers would help. Answers give people closure. There'll never be closure if you don't get the answers."